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inclination

inclination

61 4.2
A natural tendency to want or choose something
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/
translation icon : tendencia
  • Many students have a natural inclination to learn new languages.
  • a natural inclination
  • show an inclination
  • personal inclinations

Sex differences and parental inclinations would be another.

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Examples

  • And not every person has the time or inclination to write an entire book.

  • In many ways, they may be right in this inclination to dispense with parties.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I think my first inclination was to try to make it happen as quickly as possible.

  • In short... she has the time and the inclination to do a great deal of charity work.

  • There was no time and little inclination for shop talk before dinner.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Did he show any inclination then of surrender to influence?

  • But this is always my inclination to just be a little more adventurous.

  • And so far he hasn't shown any inclination to call me up and let me know.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Readers are told that women have a "natural" inclination for beauty, an eye for aesthetics.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Vincent did not feel any inclination to join Joyce in her laughter.

    Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

tendency
vsinclination
316 2.8

A usual way of behaving, thinking, or changing

is about an internal want that makes someone choose or do things
urge
vsinclination
223 3.2

A strong desire to do something

is a milder lasting want rather than a sudden strong impulse
disposition
vsinclination
43 4.6

A person's usual mood or natural way of behaving

is about wanting or choosing rather than general mood or character
penchant
vsinclination
37 8.2

A strong liking for something you do often

is a general preference that need not be strong or repeated
propensity
vsinclination
36 7.3

A natural tendency to behave in a certain way

is broader and refers to an internal preference rather than only behaviour
affinity
vsinclination
35 5.6

A natural liking for people, things, or ideas

is about an internal want to choose or do something not a connection
weakness
vsinclination
34 3.3

A strong liking for something that may be bad for you

is neutral and focuses on motive to act or choose rather than a fault
leaning
vsinclination
19 3.4

A tendency to prefer one idea or activity

is a stronger internal desire that often leads to decisions or action
proclivity
vsinclination
19 8.5

A natural liking or habit of doing something, often a bad thing

is neutral and does not imply moral judgment or harm
predilection
vsinclination
13 8.4

A strong liking for something, like a type of food or music

is a broader internal want rather than specifically a strong liking
aptness
vsinclination
7.0

A natural tendency to act or learn in a certain way

is about an internal want that makes someone choose rather than mere likelihood

Antonyms

31 6.5

A strong dislike of something or someone

2 8.0

A feeling of not wanting to do something

Compounds

angle of inclination
  • Specialized
6.9

The tilt of a line measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis

magnetic inclination
  • Specialized
7.1

An angle between the Earth's magnetic field and the ground

9.5

The angle that shows how tilted an orbit is to Earth's path around the Sun

How Inclined

penchant
37 8.2
preference
157 2.1
inclination
61 4.2
leaning
19 3.4
tendency
316 2.8

Surface Forms

inclination singular
inclinations plural

Morphology

inclination = incline (transparent) = incline + ation

Productive nominalization from 'incline' yields 'inclination' meaning a tendency or preference, which is a direct abstract meaning from the verb.

Etymology

The word inclination comes from clinare 'to lean' and is related to the common word incline. So an inclination is like a mental 'leaning' or natural 'tendency' that makes you want to choose or do something.